Magnet operated devices



Jun 1964 w. T. SEVALD MAGNET OPERATED DEVICES Filed March 28, 1961United States Patent 3,139,564 MAGNET OPERATED DEVICES William T.Sevald, 1400 Cedarhill Drive, 'Royal Oak, Mich. Filed Mar. 28, 1961,Ser. No. 98,800 3 Claims. (Cl. 317-171) This invention relates to magnetoperated devices and more particularly pertains to a device which ismoved in both directions under the power furnished by primary andsecondary magnetic reactions.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No.41,312, filed July 7, 1960, for Magnet Operated Devices and Armatures.

Magnet operated devices have been employed heretofore, however, theseveral devices of the prior art have proved unsatisfactory due to thefact that they require mechanical or spring return or other power returnsuch as electricity to effect movement in one direction as opposed tomagnetic reaction movement in the other direction.

With the foregoing in View, the primary object'of the invention is toprovide a device which is movable in one direction due to a primarymagnetic reaction and movable in the opposite direction due to asecondary magnetic reaction.

An object of the invention is to provide a device having a normalposition obtained via the secondary magnetic reaction.

An object of the invention is to provide a primary magnetic reactionwhich overpowers the secondary magnetic reaction to move the device inthe direction opposite to that which is moved by the secondary magneticreaction.

An object of the invention is to provide means for selectivelyactivating the primary magnetic reaction for selectably moving thedevice in the direction opposite to the secondary magnetic reactionmovement.

An object of the invention is to use magnets of the same power for bothreactions by reducing the reactive power between the secondary magnetand armature.

An object of the invention is to provide a relatively stronger primaryreaction and a relatively weaker secondary reaction by employing magnetsof different power.

An object of the invention is to provide bi-directionally magneticallyoperated means for actuating switches, counters, valves, etc.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent byreference to the following description of a magnet operated deviceembodying the invention taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view, partly in elevation, ofthe device seenin FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 on a reduced scale.

FIG. 2 is a reduced cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken on the line 2-2thereof.

FIG. 3 is a reduced cross-sectional view of the device seen in FIG. 1taken on the lines 3-3 thereof.

FIG. 4 is a reduced cross-sectional view of the device seen in FIG. 1taken on the line 4-4 thereof.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device seen inFIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 taken on the line 6-6thereof.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 taken on the line 7-7thereof.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the device seen in FIG. 9 taken onthe line 88 thereof.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the device seen in FIG. 8 taken onthe line 9-9 thereof.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the device seen in FIG. 8 taken onthe line 10-10 thereof showing the magnets in the normal secondaryposition; and

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FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the magnets in the primaryposition.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like andcorresponding parts throughout the several views, the magnet operateddevices disclosed therein to illustrate the invention comprise a case 20providing a housing, slide, and track having a first primary end 21 andsecond secondary end 22, a secondary armature 23 fixed adjacent to thesecondary end 22, a secondary magnet 24 located adjacent the secondaryarmature 23, a primary magnet 25 located adjacent the first end 21, anarm 26 interconnecting the magnets 24 and 25; a switch disc 27 carriedby the arm 26 slidably engaging the contact 2S, normally closing withcontact 29, and selectively closing with contact 30 upon breaking withcontact 29. The spacer 31 separates the secondary magnet 24 andsecondary armature 23 thereby diminishing the magnetic reaction powertherebetween so that when the primary armature 32 moves adjacent thecase front end 21 the primary magnetic reaction between the primaryarmature 32 and the primary magnet 25 overcomes the space wise weakenedsecondary reaction and causes the magnet 25 to move to the end of thecase 21 towards the primary armature 32 and dragging with it thesecondary magnet 24 via the arm 26 and causing the switch disc 27 tobreak with the contact 29 and make with the contact .30 while in slidingengagement with the contact 28. Upon the primary armature 32 beingremoved from the first end 21, the primary magnetic reaction isdeactivated whereupon the secondary magnetic reaction between thesecondary magnet 24 and the secondary armature 23 causes the secondarymagnet 24 to move towards the case second end 22 and dragging with itthe primary magnet 25 via the arm 26 and causing a break betweenthe'switch disc 27 and the contact 30 and a make with normally closedcontact 29.

Referring to the device seen in FIGS. 5-7, it is to be noted that theprimary magnet 50 is relatively larger than the secondary magnet 51 sothat the magnetic reaction between the primary magnet 50 and the primaryarmature 52 is much stronger than the secondary reaction between thesecondary magnet 51 and the secondary armature 53 so that upon theprimary armature 52 moving against the front end of the case 54,theprimary magnet 50 moves towards the case front end 55 dragging withit the secondary magnet 51 via the arm 56; upon the primary armature 52being removed, the secondary magnetic reaction between the secondarymagnet 51 and secondary armature 53 causes the secondary magnet 51 tomove towards the secondary armature 53 dragging with it the primarymagnet50 via the interconnecting arm 56.

Referring now to the device seen in FIGS. 811, a case 70houses arelatively small secondary magnet 71 in spaced relationship relative tothe secondary armature 72 via the spacer 73 so that thesecondary magnetcannot freeze against the face of the armature 72. The secondary magnet71 is interconnected via the arm 74 to the primary magnet 75 which isadapted to selectively cooperate with the primary armature 76, and ashas been previously described, when the primary armature 76 is proximateto the end of the primary magnet 75 the magnets will move from theposition seen in FIG. 8 to that seen in FIG. 11. Upon removal of theprimary magnet 76 from a position proximate the end of the primarymagnet 75, the secondary magnet 71 returns both magnets to the positionseen in FIG. 8.

The yoke 80 is pivotally connected on either side of the case 70 on thepin 81 and the yoke has a central aperture 82 which receives theprojection 83 on the disc 84 fixably mounted on the arm 74 so that asthe magnets and arm 74 move between the position seen in FIG. 10 and theposition seen in FIG. 11, the yoke 80 is caused aiaasea d: to pivotwhich moves the projecting lever 84 and the crank 35 with the yoke 80from the solid line position seen in FIG. 8 to the dotted line positionthereof to actuate the crank 85 on the shaft 86 which in turn operatesthe digital counter 87.

While an electrical switch and a digital counter has been shown assuitable items to be operated by the mag net operated devices, it isalso to be understood that any other device can just as well beoperated, such as valves, etc.

It is important to note that the force that moves the device in eitherdirection or in both directions is the force of magnetic attraction withthe secondary force being constituted relatively weaker than the primarymagnetic force; that upon activation of the primary magnetic force itovercomes the weaker secondary magnetic force causing the device to movetowards the primary end of the device whereupon de-activation of theprimary force, the secondary force reacts to reposition the secondarymagnet adjacent secondary end of the device.

It is to be noted that magnets of equal size can be employed as seen inFIGS. 1 through 4 wherein circular magnets are employed in a circularcase and wherein a relatively larger spacer is used between thesecondary magnet and the secondary armature to permit the primary magnetto have power greater than the reactive force set up between thesecondary magnet as spaced from the secondary armature.

It is also to be noted inthe other embodiments of the invention thatrelatively larger and smaller magnets can be used and that the spacerscan also be used with difi'erent size magnets.

In other words, a relatively smaller magnet can be used in the device ofFIGS. 1 through 4 and the spacer 31 eliminated or substantially reducedor conversely, the same size magnet could be used in the device seenfrom FIGS.

5 through ll and spacers used to create the relative difference in powerbetween the secondary and primary magnetic forces.

The inventive device with these features constitutes a compact, durable,neat appearing mechanism easily operated and integrated'to operatevarious devices and it is to be particularly noted that it obviates theuse of spring or other mechanical and electrical returns in oppositionto the primary magnetic force.

Although but a few embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in thesize, shape, detail and arrangement of the various elements of theinvention within the scope of the appended claims.

armature and to drag with it said primary armature via said arm; and aprimary armature selectably movable into and out of reactive range withsaid primary magnet at said slide means primary end; the primarymagnetic reaction between said primary armature and primary magnet beingoverpoweringly stronger relative to the secondary magnetic reactionbetween said secondary armature and secondary magnet to cause saidprimary magnet to move toward said primary armature when said primaryarmature is reactively proximate dragging with it said secondary magnetvia said arm; said secondary armature and magnet being within reactiverange of one another at all times to effect retraction of said secondarymagnet toward said secondary armature when said primary armature isreactively remote.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1, a spacer between saidsecondarymagnet and said secondary aramature positioning and locating saidsecondary magnet in its most proximate position to said secondaryarmature at a point of relatively weak secondary magnetic reactionrelative to the primary magnetic reaction between said primary armatureand primary magnet so that upon said primary armature moving intomagnetic reaction with said primary magnet, said primary magnet movestoward said primary armature dragging said secondary magnet with itovercoming said relatively weak secondary magnetic reaction ascontrolled by said spacer.

3. A bi-directionally operated device powered in opposite directions bymagnets comprising a case having a first end and a second end, a primarymagnet slidably disposed in said case adjacent said first end, asecondary magnet slidably disposed in said case adjacent said secondend, an arm interconnecting said magnets, a secondary armature in saidcase adjacent said secondary magnet at all times to cause said secondarymagnet normally to move toward and locate itself adjacent said secondaryarmature via secondary magnetic reaction therebetween and to also movesaid primary magnet via said arm, a primary armature adjacent said casefirst end selectably movable between a position reactively remote and aposition within reactive range of said primary magnet to efrect primarymagnetic reaction therebetween to cause said primary magnet to movetoward said primary armature and with it said secondary magnet via saidarm; said primary magnetic reaction being relatively stronger than saidsecondary magnetic reaction so as to overcome the ever present secondarymagnetic reaction to effect movement of said magnets toward said primaryarmature when said primary armature magnetically reacts with saidprimary magnet; said secondary magnetic reaction moving said magnetstoward said secondary armature when said primary armature is reactivelyremote from said primary magnet.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,372,853 Ray Apr. 3, 1945 2,969,445 Mitchell Jan. 24, 1961 FOREIGNPATENTS 688,402 Great Britain Mar. 4, 1953

1. A DEVICE ACTUATED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS BY MAGNETIC REACTIONCOMPRISING SLIDE MEANS HAVING A PRIMARY END AND A SECONDARY END, APRIMARY MAGNET ON SAID SLIDE MEANS ADJACENT SAID PRIMARY END, ASECONDARY MAGNET ON SAID SLIDE MEANS ADJACENT SAID SECONDARY END, AN ARMINTERCONNECTING SAID MAGNETS MECHANICALLY EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF ONE SAIDMAGNET WITH THE OTHER BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID SLIDE MEANS, A SECONDARYARMATURE ON SAID SLIDE MEANS SECONDARY END MAGNETICALLY REACTING WITHSAID SECONDARY MAGNET CAUSING SAID SECONDARY MAGNET NORMALLY TO MOVETOWARD AND LOCATE AT SAID SECONDARY ARMATURE AND TO DRAG WITH IT SAIDPRIMARY ARMATURE VIA SAID ARM; AND A PRIMARY ARMATURE SELECTABLY MOVABLEINTO AND OUT OF REACTIVE RANGE WITH SAID PRIMARY MAGNET AT SAID SLIDEMEANS PRIMARY END, THE PRIMARY MAGNETIC REACTION BETWEEN SAID PRIMARYARMATURE AND PRIMARY MAGNET BEING OVERPOWERINGLY STRONGER RELATIVE TOTHE SECONDARY MAGNETIC REACTION BETWEEN SAID SECONDARY ARMATURE ANDSECONDARY MAGNET TO CAUSE SAID PRIMARY MAGNET TO MOVE TOWARD SAIDPRIMARY ARMATURE WHEN SAID PRIMARY ARMATURE IS REACTIVELY PROXIMATEDRAGGING WITH IT SAID SECONDARY MAGNET VIA SAID ARM; SAID SECONDARYARMATURE AND MAGNET BEING WITHIN REACTIVE RANGE OF ONE ANOTHER AT ALLTIMES TO EFFECT RETRACTION OF SAID SECONDARY MAGNET TOWARD SAIDSECONDARY ARMATURE WHEN SAID PRIMARY ARMATURE IS REACTIVELY REMOTE.